The 13th edition of the Oran International Arab Film Festival (DIOFA) kicked off its official competition in Oran, western Algeria, on Friday evening, drawing enthusiasts of the cinematic arts. The festival features a diverse selection of feature films and documentaries.
Audiences were treated to screenings of four compelling works: ‘The Bridge’ and ‘The Colony’ in the feature film category, and ‘Civil War’ and ‘The Color of Phosphate’ in the documentary category. Expert judging panels, comprised of prominent Arab film figures, will oversee each category.
The feature film competition began with the screening of ‘The Bridge’, directed by Tunisian filmmaker Walid Mattar. This co-production tells the story of Fouad, a young director who, along with two young women, is filming a music video. The trio stumbles upon a box containing narcotics and decides to sell them in nightclubs, but events take an unexpected turn, complicating their lives.
The second feature film, ‘The Colony’, directed and produced by Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Rashad, also a co-production, follows two brothers who, after the death of their father in a work accident, are offered compensation by the factory management instead of pursuing legal action. While working, they begin to question whether their father’s death was truly accidental.
In the documentary category, screened at the Cinematheque, ‘Civil War’ inaugurated the competition. This documentary, directed by Sudanese filmmaker Mohamed Subhi, tells the story of three young Sudanese men who participate in the revolution, contributing to the resistance using the tools and resources they acquire to bring about change.
‘The Color of Phosphate’, directed by Tunisia’s Reda Tlili, sheds light on the daily life of a mining worker who remains steadfast in the face of life’s hardships, defying the grayness that stifles life.
A total of 34 films are competing within the festival, selected from approximately 63 films being screened during the 13th edition of the Oran International Arab Film Festival. The event continues until November 5th and is organized by the festival’s management, under the patronage of the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Arts, with the support of the Wilaya of Oran and the contribution of various partners.
